Friends Electric from BC&F Dentsu crowned winners of the 9th annual BOTAB held last night

Barnes, Catmur & Friends Dentsu band Friends Electric has taken back the much coveted championship title for the one event on the advertising calendar that has nothing to do with advertising.

The ninth annual Battle of the Ad Bands competition proudly bought to you by Flying Fish and CAANZ saw six agency bands fight it out in an epic clash of egos and music ability last night, Thursday 15th September, emceed by the one and only Mikey Havoc.

Hundreds of ‘groupies’ packed out The Kings Arms to watch their colleagues belt out Boy and Girl Band classics and prance about the stage in beige suits and afro wigs. Our esteemed judging panel of Jason Faafoi (of cult classic kids TV show, What Now), Brandon Lela’ulu (the favourite maitre D of Prego), and Georgia Cubbon (Radio Hauraki) were very impressed by their quality of musicianship and performance.

For its efforts, Barnes, Catmur & Friends Dentsu were awarded:

·       A production run of their own designed ice cream flavour from Much Moore Ice Cream

·       A Music Video recorded by Franklin Rd and produced by Fish&Clips

·       A day’s online post production at MandyVFX

·       A $500 Lunch at Prego

·       A BMW X1 to drive around for a month

·       Coffee and doughnuts brought to the office this morning courtesy of Coffee Supreme

·       The coveted BOTAB trophy

The judges also awarded Best Performer to Kieran Anderson (left) from Saatchi & Saatchi, who won a travel voucher to the value of $1500 thanks to Fortis Travel and Best Dressed to this year’s theme: Boy vs. Girl Bands to Colenso BBDO who walked away with suits for the whole band from The Syndicate.

Thanks to all the bands that competed:

• Fish Emoticon from Flying Fish

• Serenading Shirley from FCB

• The Orphanage from Whybin/TBWA

• Friends Electric from Barnes, Catmur and Friends Dentsu

• The Strands from Saatchi & Saatchi

• Pegasus and The Job Numbers from ColensoBBDO (left).

For the first time in BOTAB history, the theme for next year’s event was announced on the night. The 10th Annual Battle of the Ad Bands will be a Battle of the Decades.

BOTAB 2016 again saw the support of the New Zealand Music Foundation.  Funds raised will go towards community projects and helping those in need.  It’s not too late to support them and enter the bidding war for 6 x Ben Harper concert tickets. Send your bid to info@nzmusicfoundation.org.nz by close of business Tuesday 20th September.

BOTAB 2016 was proudly brought to you by Flying Fish and CAANZ.

And of course BOTAB wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of its sponsors Apex Insurance, Franklin Rd, Fortis Travel, BMW NZ, Event Cinemas, Oceania Productions, Whittakers, Coffee Supreme, Radio Hauraki, Mandy VFX, SOAR Printing, Tui, Fruit Guys, My Food Bag, The Syndicate, Prego & Much Moore Ice Cream.

To find out more visit: www.caanz.co.nz/events/botab.